Scoliosis

What is scoliosis?

Scoliosis consists of the loss of the normal alignment of the spine in the frontal plane, that is, when we look at a person from the front. In this plane the column must be practically straight. When spinal curvatures occur, we speak of scoliosis.

The Teknon clinic in Barcelona has taken another step in the fight against scoliosis by applying a pioneering surgical technique that allows correcting the curvature of the spine in younger patients.

Quality of life

The neurosurgeon Roberto Lastra leads the team that has developed the procedure, consisting of the introduction of an elastic cord that tightens the vertebrae and does not limit the patient's movements, allowing them to lead a normal life. This is a hopeful medical breakthrough.

Scoliosis Diagnosis

To diagnose scoliosis, an x-ray of the entire spine, frontal and in profile, must be taken. In the frontal X-ray of the spine is where it will be seen if there is this curvature in the spine important enough to consider it a scoliosis.


When this scoliosis exists, we must distinguish structural or true scoliosis from postural or scoliotic attitude. “The latter is a scoliosis that is not true, it is not caused by a problem in the structure of the vertebrae, but rather it occurs because the spine takes that shape at a given moment. But it can be reduced, that is, it is solved when the posture changes. An example of this type of scoliotic attitude would be the one produced by pain or when there is a difference in length between the legs. When scoliosis is structural, it does not reduce, it does not disappear.


The most frequent symptoms that the patient feels is pain: low back pain, which is pain in the lumbar part of the spine, or back pain, which is pain in the dorsal area. "In some cases, sciatica, pain in the nerve structures radiating to the legs, or a secondary hernia can also occur," he stresses.

For Dr. Roberto Lastra, scoliosis surgery without fusion is recommended, above all, in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis because they are patients who have a curvature that is usually still growing and can progress further.

normal curvatures of the spine

Three main curves are normally observed in the spine seen in profile:

    a lordosis or forward curve in the cervical and lumbar regions, and a kyphosis or backward curve in the dorsal region.

Seen from the front, the column is observed in perfect alignment.

Scoliosis is the alteration of this normal configuration.



types of scoliosis

idiopathic scoliosis

It is of unknown cause.

We can subdivide it in turn into 3 types:

Infantile scoliosis: appears from birth to 3 years.

Juvenile scoliosis: appears from 3 to 9 years.

Adolescent scoliosis: appears from 10 to 18 years of age and is the most frequent.


congenital scoliosis

It is the one that is presented at the time of birth.


It is generally associated with the malformation of a vertebra.

degenerative scoliosis

It is that scoliosis that goes unnoticed during youth and that due to injuries typical of adulthood (such as osteoporosis, disc degeneration, compression fractures, etc.) develop scoliosis during adulthood.


neuromuscular scoliosis

This is due to a condition that affects the nerves or muscles in the back, such as cerebral palsy or muscular dystrophy. Neuromuscular scoliosis is of the 'structural' type when there is rotation in addition to the curvature of the spine and 'non-structural' if there is no rotation of the spine. Non-structural scoliosis can be caused by problems including:

    Poor posture Muscle spasms, for example caused by a compressed or slipped disc Having one leg shorter than the other

Correcting the underlying cause can reverse this type of scoliosis.

Other causes of scoliosis include damage or uneven growth of the spine caused by trauma or tuberculosis infection of the spine.


Frequent questions

  • What is scoliosis?

    Scoliosis is a lateral deviation or deviation to the left or right of the spine.

  • symptoms of scoliosis

    One hip higher or bulkier than the other.

  • Causes of scoliosis

    Doctors do not know the causes of the most common type of scoliosis, although it seems to assume hereditary factors, since this disorder is usually passed from parents to children. Less common types of scoliosis can be caused by the following:

  • Scoliosis Treatment

    Although there are no known medications to treat scoliosis, pain relievers such as ibuprofen provide relief and are therefore part of targeted pain therapy in cases where the curvature causes severe pain. Although, it is also recommendable fiotherapeutic treatment Once the diagnosis is established. the choice of treatment depends on the extent, cause and location of the curvature in the vertebral spine, as well as the age and health status of the patient.

  • Scoliosis Prevention

    Traditional and orthopedic medicine are used to advising gymnastics, swimming, even the use of a lift, as a more conservative treatment. In case these methods cannot control the evolution of the scoliosis, the use of the brace is usually recommended. However, studies show very ambiguous results about its effectiveness.

Scoliosis Fighters

This page aims to unite those affected by scoliosis against this disease. We often find ourselves with a great lack of knowledge of all the problems that surround this vertebral condition on the part of society, and even on the part of the patients who suffer from it and their families.

The main objective is to provide information (medical, work, legal, family) through the Facebook page